One of the interesting things about watches is how you tie them to your wrist. Back when wristwatches were first popularized in the trenches of World War I by strapping a pocket watch on the wrist for easy access to the time, anything worked, stylish or not. These days, watch straps have a subculture of their own, and the list of options has exploded.

There are dozens — if not hundreds — of guys making custom leather straps these days, and a few doing nylon. You can too. All it really takes is some serious time on Google and YouTube looking for information, a leather supplier, a few knives, needle and thread, and Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours of practice.

In case you don’t have that kind of time, we’ve rounded up some top current strap makers for your sampling pleasure. And lest you think these guys are dilettantes, at least two of them parlayed their passion into an OEM manufacturing concern for well-known watch brands.